SENATE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 3819

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MARCH 16, 2026

      The Senate Environment and Energy Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 3819.

This bill would extend the deadline for the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to approve Tranche 1 and Tranche 2 incentive awards for eligible transmission-scale energy storage systems under the energy storage program established by N.J.S.A.48:3-121.2 et al. (program).  Under current law, the BPU is required to approve incentive awards for eligible projects totaling at least 1,000 megawatts in installed capacity by June 30, 2026.  This bill extends that solicitation deadline to December 31, 2026.  The bill also modifies certain project maturity requirements in order to expand the amount of projects eligible to receive incentive awards under Tranche 2 of the program.